Method and apparatus for mixing chemicals

ABSTRACT

A method of mixing chemicals by a mixing machine comprising a container and a hollow shaft whose one end thrusting itself into the container, to which an oscillating device to oscillate the container in relation to said hollow shaft is connected. Gaseous body in said container is sucked up to attain the desired pressure, including vacuum, so as to equalize falling and diffusing speeds of materials having different apparent specific gravity in said container, thereby effecting uniform and efficient mixing of materials. A mixing apparatus as mentioned above.

United States Patent [72} inventor Taichi Hotta 3,046,157 7/1962 Nyman 259/72 [2'] A I N gzl FORElGN PATENTS pp o. Filed Nov. 13' 1969 860,493 2/1961 Great Britain 259/72 [45] Patented June 22, 1971 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins [73] Assignce Nippon Zokl Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Atlorney-Craig, Antonelli, Stewart & Hill Osaka, Japan [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING CHEMICALS 2 Chi 8 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: A method of mixing chemicals by a mixing US. Cl machine comprising a container and a hollow shaft whose one 259/75, 259/81 end thrusting itself into the container, to which an oscillating ls l 1 Int. Cl device to oscillate the container in relation to aid hollow shaft of 73, is connected Gaseous in container is sucked up to 751 81, l3, 3O, 32, 33, 57 attain the desired pressure, including vacuum, so'as to equalize falling and diffusing speeds of materials having different [56] References cited apparent specific gravity in said container, thereby effecting UNlTED STATES PATENTS uniform and efficient mixing of materials. 2,991,657 7/1961 Schatz v 259/72 A mixing apparatus as mentioned above.

PATENTED JUNZ 2 I9?! SHEET 1 UF 3 IN VENTOR TAICHI m4 m1 ATTORNEY)" PATENTEU JUN22 lQYl SHEET 2 BF 3 m a M INVENTOR BY HWWLL- ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUN22 Ian SHEET 3 BF 3 INVHN'I'UR Armlew v METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING CHEMICALS This invention relates to a method and apparatus for mixing chemicals, in which a container to hold therein granular, powdery or liquid drugs, or other solid, liquid or inactive gas is rotated by a rotative hollow shaft, oscillating itself in relation to said hollow shaft, with the inside of the container communicating with a pumping device through the hollow shaft.

In the conventional mixing technique, a container formed in the desired shape is merely rotated, or agitating vanes are provided in the container for mixing of materials. Each kind of materials to be mixed, however, has its own apparent specific gravity and therefore even by mixing operation for a fairly long time, the materials of different falling and diffusing speeds cannot be mixed uniformly because of their tendency to separate, with the result of inefi'lciency of mixing.

This invention has for an object to remove the above-mentioned defects, more specifically, to provide a novel device whereby a container is adapted to be made vacuum or, where necessary, pressurized with hot air while it is oscillating, to attain uniform mixing in a short time. The construction according to this invention is characterized in that a container has openings or slits scaled up by a sealing member which connects at its both ends to a tensioning device; one end of a rotative hollow shaft is passed through said sealing member airtightly and fixedly with its extreme end entering into the container through the opening; and an oscillating device to oscillate the container against said hollow shaft is installed connectively with the container, whereby the container does oscillatory and rotary motion by the rotation of the hollow shaft which communicates with a pumping device.

The nature and further advantages of this invention will be understood more clearly from the following descriptions made in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a front view, in vertical section, of a mixing machine, 7

FIG. 2 is a side view, as taken on section line 2-2 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 represents, on an enlarged scale, the main portion of a container oscillating device and agitating vanes in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an end view, taken along the section line 4-4 in FIG. 1, which indicates the state in which an opening on the container is sealed up by a'sealing member,

FIG. 5 is a front view, partly in section, which indicates one example ofa tensioning device for drawing a sealing member,

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are respectively detailed cross-sectional views of rotatory sealing joint 43 and 24, and

.FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the tensioning device for drawing a sealing member.

Now, descriptions will be made of an embodiment of the present invention in reference to the accompanying drawings. Numeral ll denotes a container for mixing and numeral 12 denotes a cover for the inlet of materials, such as drugs, to be mixed. Numeral l3 denotes a hinge for the cover 12 and numeral l4 denotes a clamp. Numerals l5 and 16 are rotative hollow shafts respectively with their extreme end entering into the container. The shaft is supported by ball bearings 41a, 41b and holds therein a hollow inner shaft 18 carrying at its top end agitating vanes 17 and thrusting itself into the container 11. The said inner shaft is supported by metal 19 and 20. Fixed at the other end of the inner shaft 18 is a pulley 21 which is rotated by a belt 22. The end portion of the inner shaft 18 and a conduit 23 are connected to each other by a rotatory sealing joint 24 and the conduit is connected with a vacuum pump 25. An opening or a slit 11a is made through the container 11 at the portion where the hollow shaft 15 is inserted. A sealing member 26 made of a strip of rubber, synthetic resin, metal, or metal laminated with nylon, etc. is fitted in the said opening to shut it tight. A hole is bored at the central portion of the sealing member, where one end of the hollow shaft 15 is passed through airtightly and fixedly. The sealing member 26 is supported by a guide plate 27 provided on the container II and shuts the opening Ila tightly, to enable the container 11 and the sealing member 26 to slide with perfect airtightness. Both outer ends of the sealing member 26 are connected to a tensioning device 28 provided on the container 11 so that the sealing member 26 may always be rolled up or may be imparted with tension by means of a spring 29, shown with a chain line in FIG. 5, which is coupled with end portions 260 and 26b. The hollow shaft 15 is wrapped with a sleeve 31 coupled with a bevel gear 30. Fixed to said sleeve is a pulley 32, which is driven by a belt 33. The bevel gear 30 engages with an arc-shaped rack 34 provided on the container 11, which is caused to oscillate properly by the displacement of said rack. A pulley 35 is fixed at one end of the hollow shaft 15 and driven by a belt 36. As indicated in the left half section in FIG. 1, another rotative hollow shaft 16 thrusts itself into the container 11 and helps oscillation of the container 11 by the connection with a bevel gear 37, a sleeve 38, a pulley 39, a belt 40, etc., similarly to the right half section. Although agitating vanes are omitted in the left half section, more effect of agitation, if necessary, can be obtained by inserting an inner shaft in the hollow shaft 16 and fixing agitating vanes thereto, similarly to the right half section. Numeral 41c denotes ball .bearing of the shaft 16. Numeral 42 denotes a conduit conmaterials to be mixed from passing therethrough. The hollow I shaft 15 and the inner shaft I8 are sealed within the container 11 by means ofa sealing cover 47.

Referring now to a concrete embodiment of the rotatory sealing joint 43, a coupling ring is fixed to the end portion of the conduit 42 and has annular grooves 51 and 52 within. Another coupling ring 53 is fixed to the end portion of the hollow shaft 16 and an annular projection 54 which is fitted in the annular groove 51 is provided protrudingly at the said end portion. An annular groove 55 is provided in the inner surface of the circumference. Couplings rings 50 and 53 are coupled as illustrated and the annular grooves 52 and 55 are filled up with stuffings 56 and 57 respectively, whereby clearance between the coupling rings 50 and 53 and clearance between the coupling ring 53 and the hollow shaft 16 are sealed.

Next, descriptions will be made of a concrete embodiment of the rotatory sealingjoint 24. A coupling ring 60 of the same type as the aforementioned coupling ring 50 is fixed to the hollow inner shaft 18. Another coupling ring 63 of the same type as the coupling ring 53 is secured to the hollow conduit 23. Annular grooves 61 and 62, a projection 64, an annular groove 65 and stufiings 66 and 67 are of the same type as in the case of the preceding embodiment. Secured to the hollow shaft 23 is a cylindrical housing 68, in which the aforementioned coupling rings 60 and 63 are housed. A thrust ball bearing 69 which makes contact with the coupling ring 63 within the housing 68 is fitted in the inner shaft 18. An end plate 70 which makes contact with the thrust ball bearing 69 is slidably fitted in the housing 68. This end plate is coupled with a tension spring 73 which is connected to the end portion of anchor bolt 72 fixed to a sideplate 71 of the housing 68 and thus the end plate is kept drawn toward the inward of the housing.

In FIG. 8, another embodiment of the drawing of sealing member 26 is shown. Both outer ends 26a and 26b of the sealing member 26 are connected with a rope 29a, which is slidably mounted on a guide roller 28a to impart tension to the sealing member. All the other points are the same as in the case of the preceding embodiment.

Although the aforementioned embodiments are the case of apparatus for mixing drugs, such apparatus can be modified for the use of various other purposes.

In the case of mixing drugs under the above-mentioned construction, while the container is rotated by the hollow shaft at the speed of about 3090 r.p.m., it is given a motion varying its angle of inclination at every moment by the oscillating device connected thereto and thus the pressure inside the container can be kept properly, ranging from atmospheric pressure to vacuum. Accordingly, even if materials in the container are different in respect of apparent specific gravity, their falling and diffusing speeds can be made almost equal, with the reduced tendency to separate, with the result of uniform mixing in a short time. Furthermore, where necessary, hot air can be pressed into the container under a higher pressure than atmosphere. This invention, therefore, displays excellent performance in the processes of manufacturing synthetic resin, cement, etc. Also, according to this invention, suction of the air in the container, introduction of inactive gas into the container and low temperature in the container can be attained, with the result of stable and efficient mixing.

Furthermore, the apparatus under this invention can be used as a barrel polisher whereby materials put in a container together with abrasive can be polished.

What I claim is:

1. A method of mixing chemicals including drugs, in which granular, powdery or liquid drugs, or other solid or liquid is put in a container, gaseous body in said container being sucked up to attain the desired pressure, including vacuum, so as to equalize falling and diffusing speeds of materials having different apparent specific gravity, said container being made to vary its angle of inclination in relation to it's rotative shaft at every moment, while rotating on said rotative shaft.

2. A mixing machine comprising a container with openings sealed up by the sealing member which is connected at its both ends to a tensioning device and a hollow shaft whose one end passing through said sealing member airtightly and fixedly and thrusting itself into said container, to which an oscillating device to oscillate the container in relation to said hollow shaft is connected, said container being made to do oscillatory and rotary motion by the rotation of the hollow shaft which can be communicated with a pumping device. 

2. A mixing machine comprising a container with openings sealed up by the sealing member which is connected at its both ends to a tensioning device and a hollow shaft whose one end passing through said sealing member airtightly and fixedly and thrusting itself into said container, to which an oscillating device to oscillate the container in relation to said hollow shaft is connected, said container being made to do oscillatory and rotary motion by the rotation of the hollow shaft which can be communicated with a pumping device. 